Transfer of Land Into Trust for the Pechanga Band of Indians

Floor Speech

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5682) to take certain land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pechanga Band of Indians, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5682

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. TRANSFER OF LAND INTO TRUST FOR THE PECHANGA BAND OF INDIANS.

(a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights and the conditions described in subsection (c), the covered land is hereby taken into trust for the benefit of the Tribe.

(b) Administration.--The land taken into trust under subsection (a) shall be--

(1) part of the reservation of the Tribe; and

(2) administered in accordance with the laws and regulations generally applicable to property held in trust by the United States for the benefit of an Indian Tribe.

(c) Conditions.--

(1) In general.--The land taken into trust under subsection (a) shall be--

(A) subject to all valid encumbrances, liens, rights-of- way, reciprocal road rights-of-way agreements, licenses, leases, permits, and easements existing on the date of the enactment of this Act;

(B) maintained as open space; and

(C) used only for--

(i) purposes consistent with the maintenance of the land as open space; and

(ii) the protection, preservation, and maintenance of the archaeological, cultural, and wildlife resources on the land.

(2) Construction and maintenance.--Nothing in this paragraph prohibits the construction or maintenance of utilities or structures that are--

(A) consistent with the maintenance of the land taken into trust under subsection (a) as open space; and

(B) constructed for the protection, preservation, and maintenance of the archaeological, cultural, and wildlife resources on the land.

(3) Prohibition on gaming.--The land taken into trust under subsection (a) shall not be used for any class II gaming or class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (as those terms are defined in section 4 of that Act (25 U.S.C. 2703)).

(d) Rights and Agreements.--Nothing in this Act shall alter, or require the alteration of, any existing water rights or service agreements.

(e) Map on File.--The Map shall be kept on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.

(f) Definitions.--In this Act:

(1) Covered land.--The term ``covered land'' means all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the approximately 860 acres of land in Riverside County, California, administered by the Bureau of Land Management and generally depicted as ``Proposed Pechanga Land Conveyance Parcel'' on the Map.

(2) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map titled ``BLM Lands into Trust for the Pechanga Band of Indians'', and dated August 21, 2025.

(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior.

(4) Tribe.--The term ``Tribe'' means the Pechanga Band of Indians.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. 5682, the bill under consideration.

I rise to support H.R. 5682, introduced by Congressman Issa, which would place approximately 860 acres of Bureau of Land Management land into trust for the Pechanga Band of Indians.

Located in Temecula, California, the Pechanga Band has a deep desire to protect its ancestral and cultural land. This includes the Pu'eska Mountain, which is central to the Pechanga's creation stories and spiritual life. The Pechanga Band was able to purchase Pu'eska Mountain in 2012 and placed it into trust in 2015.

The 860 acres of BLM-managed land conveyed in this legislation are interspersed within the Pechanga Band's existing holdings, including the Pu'eska Mountain. This unwieldy checkerboard pattern of land ownership has complicated the Pechanga Band's access to and stewardship of its sacred land.

With this transfer, however, the Tribe will consolidate its ownership and will reasonably maintain the land. The legislation requires that the land remain as open space and be used only for cultural and conservation purposes. The bill also includes an explicit prohibition on gaming, pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

I want to thank my friend Mr. Issa for working diligently with the Pechanga Band to develop H.R. 5682, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, again, the Pechanga Band of Indians have worked to consolidate their ancestral and cultural land for years. The conveyance authorized by this legislation will unwind much of the checkerboard pattern that has prevented the Pechanga Band from readily accessing its lands, including its most sacred site, the Pu'eska Mountain.

I thank Mr. Issa for his work on this straightforward but important legislation. I support H.R. 5682, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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